Stackable collapsible basket

ABSTRACT

A basket with an alternating planar phase suitable for storage and shipping of the basket. The basket generally includes a geometrically-shaped rigid base, side walls and at least, one connecting set of fasteners to hold the side walls in a position perpendicular to the base. Other connecting means may be utilized in adjacent corners to connect and hold the side walls in their erect positions.

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/964,223, filed Sep. 25, 2001, for “Stackable Collapsible Basket”, which claims the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/235,257, entitled “Basket”, filed on Sep. 25, 2000, and the specifications thereof are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field):

[0003] The present invention relates to baskets and other containers, especially those requiring shipping or occasional storage.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art:

[0005] Note that the following discussion refers to a number of publications by author(s) and year of publication, and that due to recent publication dates certain publications are not to be considered as prior art vis-a-vis the present invention. Discussion of such publications herein is given for more complete background and is not to be construed as an admission that such publications are prior art for patentability determination purposes.

[0006] The present invention provides baskets that can be shipped and stored in a fiat configuration then securely reconfigured to a basket shape for actual use. Previously existing baskets are difficult to ship and store due to their bulky shape. Prior art baskets with collapsible features were generally not sturdy. Use of those baskets was limited by the natural pliability of the utilized materials upon introduction of a weight load. Consequently, some uses, such as carrying a full basket without supporting the sides or bottom, would inevitably lead to the unintended spilling of the items in the basket.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,129 to Hahn (′129 patent) discloses a protective pad designed for use in indoor gardening. The pad is made of a flexible material and utilizes “fastening means” in adjacent corners. The ′129 patent's flexible material specifically provides a means for “capturing” soil or debris spilt onto the pad by allowing a user to pick the pad up by handles attached to two opposing corners and to carry the pad while the weight of the debris in the pad pulls the center area of the pad downward from the nonhandled corners, thereby preventing spilling of the material.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,520 to Milliken (′520 patent) discloses a suspendable cradle in essentially the shape of an open-topped cloth basket formed by removal of portions from the corners of a rectangular piece of cloth which are then joined at the corners by stitching or Velcro®. The cradle also utilizes dowels inserted in sleeves along the upper perimeter. The dowels overlap, are joined by eye-bolts and are used for suspension of the cradle.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,748 to Chen (′748 patent) discloses a box cover formed when the side walls are brought together by pulling on a cord running along the perimeter of the side walls.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,357 to Schmitt (′357 patent) discloses a foldable container made of plastic material.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,813 to Simons (′813 patent) discloses a fold-up container with side walls containing corner areas with multiple folds.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 268,542 to Ruckert (′542 patent) discloses a folding box with a cord running along the perimeter of the side walls to hold the sides erect.

[0013] A sturdy and durable, yet flexible, basket is needed that is easily shipped or stored in a flat configuration, is easy to erect for use, and is easy to return to its flat configuration. There is a need for a basket that can be erected and flattened repeatedly as required.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention comprises a geometrically shaped basket comprising a planar geometrically shaped material. The planar geometrically shaped material comprises a rigid base and at least three side walls connectable at their corner areas for erection of the basket in a geometric shape and erect configuration and alternately disconnectable at the corner areas for collapse of said basket in a planar and collapsed configuration. The basket also comprises a fastener disposed on a corner of a side wall and a second connecting fastener disposed on an adjacent corner of another, adjacent side wall so that the first fastener is engageable with the second fastener for erecting the adjacent side walls into an essentially perpendicular relationship to the base.

[0015] The resulting geometric shape of the basket upon erection comprises at least one shape selected from the group consisting of a circle and an oval. Alternative shapes include a triangle and shapes selected from the group consisting of a square and a rectangle and the group consisting of a pentagon, a hexagon, and an octagon.

[0016] The geometrically shaped material may have divots removed from the corner areas. At least one side wall may be rigid.

[0017] The basket's material comprises at least one of the following materials: natural leather, synthetic leather, natural fabric, synthetic fabric, plastic, other porous and non-porous materials, or mixtures of those materials. The basket may comprise handles.

[0018] The basket's fasteners may comprise snaps, cords, hook and loop systems, hooks-and-eyes, or mixtures of those fasteners

[0019] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a basket that may be easily transformed to, or from, a flat arrangement for easy alternation between use and storage. Another object of the invention is to provide a basket that is stackable for storage or shipping. Yet another object is to provide a basket that is easily assembled from its flat form. Another object is to provide a basket that while transformable to a flat arrangement, is additionally sufficiently rigid and strong to support the carrying of typical items within the basket without additional support.

[0020] A primary advantage of the present invention is its ease of erection. A further advantage is the ease in storing and shipping it while it lies in its planar configuration. Finally, a further advantage is its strength in supporting typical loads.

[0021] Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into, and form a part of, the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

[0023]FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, incorporating the use of snaps as fasteners hold the basket erect;

[0024]FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention incorporating the use of a single cord to hold the basket erect;

[0025]FIG. 3 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the invention incorporating a single cord for to pull and hold the basket erect and with divots cut out to reduce corner bulk;

[0026]FIG. 4a illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, depicting the invention in its flat stage;

[0027]FIG. 4b illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, depicting the invention in its semi-erected stage;

[0028]FIG. 4c illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, depicting the invention in its erected stage; and

[0029]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, incorporating the use of Velcro® to hold the basket erect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The present invention is directed to baskets and other containers, hereinafter identified by the term “baskets’, presented in two essential forms: (1) an essentially planar arrangement suitable for storage, stacking, or shipping; and (2) an erected form.

[0031] The erected form comprises the typical basket which has an internal volume suitable for holding some material or load. Typically this includes a basket having a base and at least one side wall. Baskets may have only one side wall if they have a circular or ovate base shape. Baskets with this base shape may also incorporate multiple side walls. Other basket embodiments have other geometric shaped bases requiring additional side walls. For example, a basket with a resultant triangular form typically has three side walls.

[0032] The basket of the invention further has an orientation suitable for stacking and/or shipping wherein the basket may be “collapsed” into an essentially planar arrangement. This flat orientation preferably comprises a single piece of a material cut to shape to different geometric orientations. Typical suitable materials include natural or synthetic leathers, natural or synthetic fabric, and other porous and non-porous materials such as plastic resins, cardboard, or paper. The flat orientation may also be made from multiple connected pieces that are connected in a manner that allows for a planar arrangement. For example, in a rectangular basket, the base may be made out of a rectangular piece of material with rectangular side wall pieces sewn onto the four sides of the base. Conversely, the invention may comprise a single piece of material that is shaped into a geometric form and further divided into side wall and base segments, e.g., by seams between those segments. The material in such an embodiment may have incorporated “strengthening segments,” i.e., utilization of two or more sheets of fabric with rigid cut-outs of the appropriate geometric base and/or side wall shape incorporated between the sheets and sewn into their appropriate position. Other variations of these embodiments and suitable materials may exist and would generally be known in the art. The examples given are not meant in any way to limit the claims of the invention.

[0033] Obtaining the geometric shapes of the erected basket may be accomplished simply by shaping the planar material into the same geometric shape as the desired basket shape. Alternately, the planar material may have “divots” cut out of the corner areas where the divot material has been cut away to reduce bulk in the corner areas upon the erection of the basket.

[0034] These alternate arrangements of the basket are accomplished by use of various fastening arrangements in corner areas. Preferably, this includes utilization of a perimeter casing having an inserted cord that may be pulled at the protruding ends to reduce the outer perimeter length, thereby erecting the side walls to an essentially perpendicular arrangement with the base. Other fastening devices known in the art, e.g. snaps, hook and eye fasteners, and Velcro®, are also suitable for use.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment, the basket is shaped from a planar, geometrically shaped material comprising a rigid base. The basket comprises side walls (preferably rigid) connectable at corner areas for erection of the basket in a geometric shape and alternately disconnectable at corner areas for collapse of the basket in a planar configuration. Fasteners are disposed on at least two adjacent corner areas of the side walls, and one of the fasteners connects with an adjacent fastener for erecting the side walls of the basket into an essentially perpendicular relationship to the base. The resulting geometric shape upon erection of the basket includes a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon. Divots may be removed from the corner areas. The basket may additionally comprise handles. Fasteners for this and other embodiments include, but are not limited to, cords, snaps, hook and loop (Velcro®), and hooks-and eyes.

[0036] Another embodiment of the present invention is a basket having a resulting geometric shape comprising a planar, geometrically shaped material having an outer edge with a casing along the perimeter of the outer edge and having at least one opening within the casing. The basket has at least one cord inserted within the casing and at least one end protruding from the casing opening. The cord or cords may be pulled at their protruding end or ends causing the outer edge of the material to fold inward, decreasing the effective perimeter length. The planar form shifts to a three dimensional geometric shape having an internal volume and corner areas. The baskets preferably have a resulting geometric shape upon erection of the basket, e.g. circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon. Additionally, embodiments exist wherein the geometrically shaped material is essentially the resulting geometric shape having divots removed from corner areas. In these particular embodiments the casing is not necessarily continuous around the perimeter encompassing the divots and can comprise openings at the edges of the perimeter excluding the divots for continuous extension of the cord within the casing around the perimeter.

[0037]FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention comprising basket 10 in its erect form. Side walls 12 are attached to base 14 with snaps 15, 17 or snap systems 16 on opposing sides of corner flaps 18 to erect side walls 12 into an essentially perpendicular relationship to base 14. Snap 15 is disposed on corner flap 18, and adjacent snap 17 is disposed on adjacent corner flap 18. Snap 15 connects to snap 17 to hold side walls 12 together. This embodiment utilizes snaps 15, 17 or snap systems 16, but other fasteners and fastener systems may alternately be utilized including cords, hook and loop systems, and hooks-and-eyes. Basket 10 includes optional handles 22.

[0038]FIG. 2 generally illustrates an embodiment of the invention depicted in its planar phase utilizing single cord 20 for erection. Basket 10 has casing 24 along its outer edge. Cord 20 is inserted within, and distributed throughout, the entirety of casing 24. Casing 24 has at least one opening 26 from which opposite ends 28 of cord 20 protrude. Base 14 may be formed within the interior of basket 10. Side walls 12 surround the perimeter of base 14 and have corner areas 30. Base 14 preferably comprises a rigid material or is strengthened by inserts incorporated within the material of basket 10.

[0039]FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the invention utilizing multiple cords 40 to be tied at multiple corner areas 30 for decorative purposes.

[0040]FIGS. 4a, 4 b, and 4 c illustrate the alternate phases of an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment utilizes a single cord 20 and has corner areas 30 where divots have been cut out to reduce bulk upon erection of basket 10. FIG. 4a depicts basket 10 in its erect stage, FIG. 4b depicts basket 10 in its semi-erect stage, and FIG. 4c depicts basket 10 in its flat stage.

[0041]FIG. 5 depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention showing basket 10 in a triangular form utilizing Velcro® 50 to connect opposing corner flaps 18 of corner areas 30.

[0042] Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A geometrically shaped basket comprising: a planar geometrically shaped material comprising: a rigid base; at least three side walls connectable at corner areas for erection of said basket in a geometric shape and erect configuration and alternately disconnectable at said corner areas for collapse of said basket in a planar and collapsed configuration; and a first fastener disposed on a corner of a first said side wall and a second connecting fastener disposed on an adjacent corner of a second said adjacent side wall, said first fastener engageable with said second fastener for erecting said adjacent side walls of said basket into an essentially perpendicular relationship to said base.
 2. The basket of claim 1 wherein a resulting geometric shape upon erection of said basket comprises at least one shape selected from the group consisting of a circle and an oval.
 3. The basket of claim 1 wherein a resulting geometric shape upon erection of said basket comprises at least one shape selected from the group consisting of a square, and a rectangle.
 4. The basket of claim 1 wherein a resulting geometric shape upon erection of said basket is a triangle.
 5. The basket of claim 1 wherein a resulting geometric shape upon erection of said basket comprises at least one shape selected from the group consisting of a pentagon, a hexagon, and an octagon.
 6. The basket of claim 1 wherein said geometrically shaped material is essentially the resulting geometric shape having divots removed from said corner areas.
 7. The basket of claim 1 wherein at least one said side wall is rigid.
 8. The basket of claim 1 wherein said material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of leather, synthetic leather, natural fabric, synthetic fabric, plastic, paper, cardboard, other porous and non-porous materials, and mixtures thereof.
 9. The basket of claim 1 additionally comprising handles.
 10. The basket of claim 1 wherein said fasteners comprise snaps.
 11. The basket of claim 1 wherein said fasteners comprise cords.
 12. The basket of claim 1 wherein said fasteners comprise hook and loop systems.
 13. The basket of claim 1 wherein said fasteners comprise hooks-and-eyes.
 14. The basket of claim 1 further comprising interdisposed sections between said side walls; said base, said side walls, and said interdisposed sections comprising a planar shape when said basket is in a collapsed configuration; and said side walls foldable upwards from said base when said base is in said collapsed configuration; and said interdisposed sections foldable between said side walls when said basket is in an erect configuration. 